Gun Control Social Chatter Reaches Historic High

The latest data from TickerTags indicate the Orlando shootings may have triggered more public gun control discussions than ever before.

TickerTags monitors social media sites to identify trends by searching for words and phrases that appear together in social media content, such as tweets.

In the wake of the Orlando tragedy, organic social media mentions of “gun control,” “gun” + “ban,” and “background checks” are currently 160 percent, 255 percent and 49 percent higher, respectively, than they’ve been at any previous time in the past two years.

Organic mentions of “ammo” and “ammunition” are also up 33 percent and 49 percent higher than previous spikes.

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Ironically, when mass shootings such as these happen in the United States, gun sales and gun stocks typically respond positively, as gun enthusiasts look to stockpile guns ahead of potential changes to gun laws. Since the Orlando shootings, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp SWHC is up 15.8 percent. Sturm, Ruger & Company RGR, Cabelas Inc CAB and Vista Outdoor Inc VSTO have all traded mostly in line with the market.

So far, there have been no major change to U.S. gun laws in response to the Orlando shootings. While social media buzz about gun control may be good news for gun stocks in the short term, long-term investors would be happiest to see the social media attention fizzle out over time.

Disclosure: The author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.